THERE are just a few days left to nominate your local heroes in the Dorset Community of the Year Awards 2021.

To celebrate the very best of Dorset and its residents, Wessex Water is supporting the Community of the Year Awards 2021 in conjunction with the Dorset Echo.

The closing date is this Sunday (October 31).

The past 20 months have shown us the very best of all our communities in the most challenging of times.

We have seen the importance of working together and helping each other.

Wessex Water wants to highlight the very best of where you live – the people and things that make a difference.

The five categories in the awards are:

  • Community of the Year
  • Community Project of the Year
  • Community Hero of the Year
  • Community Business of the Year
  • Community Young Star of the Year

Nominate your favourites and the winner from each category will win a £500 donation to a nominated local registered charity, in association with Dorset Community Foundation.

The winners will be announced in November.

Diarmuid MacDonagh, editor of the Daily Echo, said: "We have had a very good response and nominations are coming in every day, but there is still time left to put forward your special names, especially in the Hero of the Year, Business of the Year and Young Star categories.

"These awards are all about celebrating the very best of our amazing communities.

He added: “Through the pandemic we have reported on so many remarkable and inspiring people and I would ask as many of our readers as possible to submit nominations to recognise these community heroes.”

Kirsty Scarlett, Wessex Water’s head of community engagement, said: “We’re really excited to be supporting Dorset Community of the Year, which will showcase some of the best places to live in the county, along with the local heroes who keep the community spirit alive.

“As a local company, we’re out and about in the beautiful communities of Dorset every day, renewing pipework and detecting leaks, and we love getting to know our customers who live there.

“In these last few days for entries, we are really looking forward to hearing from people about what and who makes their Dorset community so special."

HOW TO NOMINATE

YOU can nominate in as many or as few categories as you like and must provide a statement on why your nominee deserves to win.

Nominations are open until Sunday October 31, 2021, at which point a shortlist for each category will be announced where you can vote for the winners.

Here the categories in more detail:

  • Community of the Year: Community brings a sense of belonging. Whether it’s the village or area you live in, a group you are part of, or just a friendly street of neighbours, we want to hear what makes your community tick and why it is special.

• Community Project of the Year: The Covid-19 pandemic has seen so many people come together in so many different ways to help their communities. So this might be a group of volunteers who have worked to build something, launch an initiative to help others or improve the environment. We want to hear about projects that have enriched their community.

• Community Hero of the Year: As with the community project category, the last 18 months have shown just how many heroes we have in our local communities, there for others in good times and bad. Tell us about the inspiring person in your community who really makes a difference.

• Community Business of the Year: Businesses – particularly small businesses – have really had a tough time lately. But many have rallied round and made a huge difference to their communities, whether it be the corner shop delivering to the elderly and vulnerable, or a local factory turning its hand to making PPE for key workers, nominate a business that’s been a pillar of your community.

• Community Young Star of the Year: There are so many inspiring young people in our communities who give their time and commitment to making a difference. They don't always get heard. So tell us about a young person under the age of 18 in your community who has gone above and beyond to make that difference to their community.

Please go to wessexwater.co.uk/dorset-community-awards to complete and subject your nomination form, or forms if more than one. Please remember the closing date is October 31